Are Republicans prepared to win elections in future?

Midland Reporter-Telegram

Published 2:41 am, Thursday, February 28, 2013

Are you on Twitter? How about Facebook? We expect there are many in our circulation area who will not answer in the affirmative to either question. To many, social media is not the enemy; it’s just not their cup of tea. We get that. We also remind those who are challenged in the ways of social media that your decision not to participate might as well be considered a wasted opportunity to educate the next generation.

George P. Bush, who is expected to run for Texas land commissioner in 2014, was in Midland this week and offered his thoughts on how Republicans can get back in the game with today’s younger voter. Social media was high on the list.

“This (social media) is where the future is in terms of reaching newer voters,” Bush said.

While reaching younger voters should be a goal, it takes a back seat to which party can reach Hispanics. For Republicans, this is especially true. President Obama collected more than 70 percent of the vote in the November 2012 election, splitting open an electoral gash in the GOP, something Republicans desperately are trying to heal.

Democrats expect their advantage with Hispanic voters will make the state “more purple” at the ballot box. That’s a reason many feel George P. is the right man at the time for Texas Republicans. His father is former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. His mother, Columba Garnica Gallo, is from Mexico. George P. showed off his Spanish-speaking ability to the sound of applause during his appearance at the Bush Day Dinner in Midland.

In our view, age, skin color or the ability to speak another language shouldn’t matter when people pick their leaders. That, however, is not the political reality, and we understand that.

Still, we see conservative government as being what is the best path forward for our community, state and nation. And that is why we believe our readers should take a good long look at George P. Bush — no matter what office he chooses to run for.

Like Sen. Ted Cruz, George P. gives us a glimpse of what the future looks like for Republicans.